Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-04-05
SALVATI0NISTS GO FREE
NO LAW AGAINST WORSHIPING
WITH A BRASS B AND.

Vrlat OF Grusadere-Ibe ORDINANCE
Under Which They Were Arrested
The Ohief of Police and Sergt. Lee on
the Witness stand-Testimony of the
Prisoners-Their COunsePs Argument
and the Mayors DecisiOn-Last Nights
Meetins-Police on Duty at the Hall.
The Salvation Army had It's first Skin
mish with Savannah law yesterday, and
came out victorious and with colors fly
ing, so to speak. Whites and blacks,
men and women, completely filled the
Mayors court room in a very few seconds
after the doors were thrown open. The
seven crusaders, Maj. White, Capts.
Pembert, Renney and Hoerl, and Lieuts.
Raine, Husband and Bingeman, occupied
a bench on the south side of the room.
They looked fresh and happy, and said
that they had slept well. They got in
terested in the way the Mayor disposed of
the DRINKS, disorderlies, assaults, ETC.,
smiled some times ut parts OF evidence,
and again would shake their heads whe n
a witness was repeating Oaths that pro-
voked an assault.
Everything else was disposed OF before
the case against the Salvationists was
taken up. Before their case was called
Col. Light entered the room accompanied
by 3. B. Adams, Esq, whom the Colonel
had brought from his residence.
The CHARGE AGAINST THE PRISONERS.
The charge against the army was
''violating tho Sabbath and giving per-
formance with brass band in the Fords'
Opera House, thereby disturbing the
neighborhOod and violating the solemntty
and quiet of the Sabbath"
Sergt. Lee was the first witness called.
These people were playing brass
band in the FOrds' Opera House and l
arrested them" he remarked.
What was the occasion of the music"
asked Mayor Lester.
They seemed to be having some sort
of a religious service there"
Policeman Durham stated that he was
ordered to take the SalvatiOnists to the
barracks. They had stopped before he
got up in the hall.
Policeman McCabe said that he knew
nothing about the case.
Sergt. Lee was recalled and stated that
there was Il large crowd both inside and
out of the Opera House.
Glow did you come to make the ar
restW inquired MIR. Adams.
III was ordered to DO 80 by the Chief of
Police. His instructions were that if
they played in the hall they were to be
arrested"
"What was his authority :" asked the
Mayor.
SEARCHING FOR AUTHORITY.
Sergt. Lee, in answer, opened Rebarer's
digest OF the city ordinances at page 173,
and pointed out the ordinance, which
says:
That it shall not be lawful for any person
or association of persons 10 let or lease, or to
open. or permit or suffer to be opened, any
hall, room or place whatsoever for secular
use, amusement or pastime, within he corpo-
rate limits of the city Of savannah, on the
Lords Day. usually called Sunday. And 1t
shall not be lawful for any person, or ass0cia-
ton Of persons to use any such hall, room or
place for secular amusement or pastlme,
within the limits Aforesaid on such lords
Dav; and every person offending against any
part OF this section shall be liable, on convIc-
tton before the Police Court. to a fine of not
more than 500 for every act OF ofense.
The next section makes it the duty OF
the Mayor or acting Mayor, on Iniorma-
ton, or on his own knowledge, that any
hall, room or place whatsoever within the
corporate limits is being used, or about
10 be used. for secular amusement or
pastime on the Lords Day, to cause the
same to be closed until the succeedin g
and to cause the visitors there to be ex-
PEELED, and any person resisting shall be
liable to fine not exceeding 500.
Turning to the assistant chief, John
Green, his honor inquired il he thought
the chief acted under the above ordi-
nance. Lieut.. Green said that he believed
the ordinance referred to was the correct
! enc.
rs THE CHIEF SUMMONED.
"Send for the chief" said the Mayor
While Policeman Bender was looking for
the chief Mr.. Adams and the Mayor ex-
amined the law. Mr.. Adams declared
the ordinance could possibly be construed
70 prohibit the use OF their brass instru.
ments by the army on the Sabbath.
.That would depend upon whether the
use was secular or religious" his honor
vuggested.
Col. Milton X. Light was then called
BY the defense, and he took the oath with
raised hand, as he objected to swearing
on the Bible. 81 am the leader OF the
band here" he stated, and added: ave
were playing a sacred piece OF music at
the window before the service started.
had been playing a drum, but when the
hall got nearly full / went over to the
steps to give orders not TO allow any one
else to come up. When got to the stairs
saw a sergeant coming up. He arrested
my men who were playing, aud they went
with him peaceably."
A RELIGIOUS SERVICE.
what kind OF service do you have p'
asked the Mayor.
Religious services"
"Were you playing for secular amuse-
nent or pastimeW queried Mr.. Adams.
''No, sir. 1t was entirely religious.
Sin having this service what books do
you useW counsel continued.
''The Bible and our song books"
"What is the nature OF The sOngsw
s'They are strictly religious, although
acme are sung TO secular tunes. The
3 vDrds are such as are commonly used in
&c churches. We have some tunes that
midday schools may not use, but nc
Words."
4 ~ OF what else do your services con-
N 7"
We have exhortations and testimony
I'M those who have been saved in our
N Detings. The exhortations are OF 9
@iritual character"
& ..sOf what faith is your organization ~
III Wholly Christian"
HS X"Do you preach any doctrines that are
not preached by evangelical churches ~
e%No, SIR" the Colonel answered, "and
Qpr songs are familiar ones like 'Holc
: tie Fort Sweet By-and-By' and such
as the public knew WE'LL"
els your organization a churchw in
teTrupted the Mayor.
FIGHTING AGAINST THE DEVIL.
alt is an army, sir, carrying on wal
against the devil. We are regularly in.
corporated under the laws of New York